Switch



Now. 14, 1939.

H. FRANK SWITCH Filed May 5, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR. ,40 t g' 2 g a QMQ M/ ATTORNEY.

New. 14, 1939. w. H. FRANK 2.179.737

SWITCH Filed May 5, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

ente Nov. 14, 1939 ATES . William n.

, Detroit, Mich.

Application May 5, 1938, Serial No. 206,170

2 @laims. (Cl. 200-163) This application discloses a movable contact device for use in a switch, such as the switch disclosed in Figs. 19 to 26 inclusive of a prior application, Serial No. 100,771 filed September 14,

s 1036 now Patent No. 2,158,657, May 16, 1939.

A switch of the character under consideration comprises a sheet metal box provided with a back wall from which forwardly project separate and independent contact prongs, these being insulo latedly mounted on such back wall. The box is formed with forwardly projecting side walls and has an operating bail traversing such side walls and lournalled therein and disposed parallel to the back of the box and having a handle outside it the box for moving thebail forwardly and rearwardly without disturbing the parallel relation between the bail and the box back. Operatively connected to the bail in such a manner that ball movement will move it towards and away from m the box back is a movable contact device containing a bridging contact adapted to mate with and bridge the free ends of the contact prongs.

This application discloses a novel form of movable contact device for use in such a switch.

For an understanding of such device, reference will be had to the appended drawings and the following specification.

1n the drawings:

Fig. l is a side view of the contact device shown w in association with the operating bail;

Fig. 2 is another view of the same parts;

Fig. 3 is a section as if on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, showing the association of the movable contact device with the contact prongs;

Fig. 4 shows the contact device and bail in a switch box, and is a section on line -0, Fig. 5;

Figs. 5 and 6 are sections on lines ii-ii, 6-6, of Fig. 4, showing the switch in closed and open position respectively. v

% As has previously been stated, a switch of the character under consideration comprises a sheet metal box 10 on the back of which is mounted an insulating base it equipped with stationary contact prongs it over which telescopes the movable contact device it. The latter comprises an insulation housing provided with cells it opening towards the back of the housing and the back of the box and in which are adapted to be disposed the forward free ends of the contact prongs ii, the

cells being otherwise closed, as indicated.

Within each cell are contact leaves it formed as terminals of U-shaped straps whose bights 35 form bridging elements between the contact leaves. The latter are adapted to engage opposite 55 surfaces of the contact prongs and thus electrically interconnect the contact prongs when the housing is moved as far as possible towards the box back by the operating bail 31 which is shown as passing through a central hole or slot 38 of the housing.

The disposition of the bail within a hole of the housing interlocks the housing and the bail and by virtue of the positioning of the hole between the cells, a more satisfactory smoothness of operation of the switch is effected. It will be 10 seen that the force exerted by the bail on the housing tends to move the housing in a path parallel to the prongs in a guided path, without causing cocking of the housing during such movement; nor is there any tendency for such cocking, as otherwise might be the case if the bail were connected to the housing at some other point than between the cells. Further, the connection shown, namely the disposition of the bail in a hole of the housing, is the simplest form of connection that is possible and is of advantage in reducing the manufacturing costs and at the same time increasing the simplicity of the switch.

Further, the particular contact arrangement has been found especially useful in switches of this character, particularly because of the novel manner of associating the bail and the housing.

All of the novel features of the housing hereof, including the contact arrangement, the disposition of the bail in the hole of the housing, and the association of the bail in the housing at the point midway between the housing cells, have been found efiective in creating a simpler, more economical, and more satisfactory switch than any heretofore hiown.

It will also be understood that the housing may be formed as a one piece or as a multiple piece block of insulation, and that for purposes of manufacturing economy and assembly convenience, it may be made up of two similar parts joined at their meeting faces in any suitable manher, as shown, by suitable means, not shown.

if the housing be made of a plurality of pieces, as for example, as shown, suitable rib and groove formations may be provided on the meeting faces of. the pieces to form a gas tight seal and barrier between the cells, to prevent seepage of gas between the cells along the surfaces of the meeting faces.

Now having described the movable contact device herein disclosed, reference willbe had to'the claims which follow for a. determination of the scope of the invention sought to be protected herein.

1 claim:

1. For use in a switch having a. box provided with a back wall from which forwardly project separate and independent contact prongs forming part of a single contact set, the box also having forwardly projecting side walls and an operating bail traversing such side walls and journalled therein and disposed parallel to the back thereof and having a handle for moving the bail forwardly and rearwardly, without disturbing its parallel relation to the box back, a movable contact device comprising a housing of insulation having cells opening towards the back of the housing and the back of the box and in which are to be disposed the forward free ends of the contact prongs, the cells being otherwise closed, each cell containing a prong engaging contact with the contacts in the cells being interconnected by a connecting element within the housing, whereby engagement of the contact prongs by the cell contacts causes the contact prongs to be interconnected electrically, the housing having a through hole between the cells and substantially central thereof and extending from side to side of the housing and through which may be passed the bail whereby the housing may be interconnected to the bail, the bail thus being between the prongs of a single contact set.

2. For use in a switch having a box provided with a back wall from which forwardly project therein and disposed parallel to the back thereof and having a handle for moving the bail forwardly and rearwardly, without disturbing its parallel relation to the box back, a movable contact device comprising a housing of insulation having cells opening towards the back of the housing and the back of the box and in which are to be disposed the forward free ends of the contact prongs, the cells being otherwise closed, each cell containing a prong engaging contact with the contacts in the cells being interconnected by a connecting element Within the housing, whereby engagement of the contact prongs by the cell con tacts causes the contact prongs to be interconnected electrically, the housing having a through hole between the cells and substantially central thereof and extending from side to side of the housing and through which may be passed the bail whereby the housing may be interconnected to the bail, the bail thus being between the prongs of a single contact set, the cell contacts and their bridging element being formed integral, of a single U-shaped strap of conducting metal.

WILLIAM H. FRANK. 

